Show your "Long C" Craftsman!

[Rileysan]

hi all, happy holiday's! sorting through some stuff that was in a box i got and found this 1/4" dr. flexible ext. it's 4" long.

wait, Wait, WAIT - You don't get off that easily! Unless I'm mistaken, you've got something special there. I have never seen a flexible extension sold by Craftsman from any era. I'd recommend immediately sending it to me for closer inspection!

Brian
742 Evergreen Terrace
Springfield,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...found this 1/4" dr. flexible ext. it's 4" long.

Is there a code? Is that a Circle-H I see?

New Britain made them. They were in pre-war and post-war sets. (They were restricted as redundant and unnecessary during wartime.) NB version was NM-39. NONE BETTER version was M-39. Not sure about Husky. I don't recall seeing them in Craftsman sets or catalogs. EDIT: I found it. Page 16, 1942.

 

[bmwrd0]

6.2 amps! that motor is a beast. I wonder if a grinder of that vintage would fit on the newer generation Craftsman stand?

I couldn't find a stand that fits commercially, so I build one out of an old round bottom table leg. Doubled up a bit of 3/4 ply to make the top strong and the right height.

 

[A E Numan]

bmwrd0: That sounds like it works great. I found more "Long C".

 

[Private Lugnutz]

One observation I have on this thread is that we're seeing a lot more mixed logo sets (tools with Long C markings, box with =CRAFTSMAN= decal) than matching logo sets (tools and box with Long C markings). AE’s very fine 1/2-inch drive “12-pc (only missing the tommy bar!) Nut Spinner" set is a good example.

If you look on page 8 of the 1942 Craftsman catalog, one click away here, in the Tools Archive catalog library, the “12-piece Nut Spinner” set (#9PC4405) is shown with a Long C badge on the box and Long C markings on the tools.

If you look on page 2 of the 1948 Craftsman catalog, one click away here, in the Tools Archvie catalog library, the same “12-piece Nut Spinner” set (#9PC4396) is shown with a so-called “Heritage” (=CRAFTSMAN=) badge on the box and CRAFTSMAN markings on the tools.

It seems to me that if a set like these – Long C tools, =CRAFTSMAN= badge box – are original to each other, it helps date them to the early part of the Heritage period, perhaps when the boxes were already being badged with the new logo but they were still filling them out with 1947 production tools.

 

[Catfishdan]

wait, Wait, WAIT - You don't get off that easily! Unless I'm mistaken, you've got something special there. I have never seen a flexible extension sold by Craftsman from any era. I'd recommend immediately sending it to me for closer inspection!



Brian

742 Evergreen Terrace

Springfield,

I've got a =v= era one. It's the only one I've seen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rileysan]

Is there a code? Is that a Circle-H I see?

New Britain made them. They were in pre-war and post-war sets. (They were restricted as redundant and unnecessary during wartime.) NB version was NM-39. NONE BETTER version was M-39. Not sure about Husky. I don't recall seeing them in Craftsman sets or catalogs.

I see a "BE" on it.

Thanks for the info on NB. I had no idea they ever made them. The only ones I've ever seen are from Snap-on.

Brian

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No problem. Just to round out the category, they also made flex spinner handles (New Britain NM-38, NONE BETTER M-38). Both the spinners and the extensions are pretty scarce. And, like you and Catfishdan, I've never seen either one in Craftsman BE or (H) before.

 

[Cf mtn]

rileysan, lugz. yeah the only markings on it are the long c logo and be, no COO, #. looking on line it looked like it could be something unique?

 

[Rileysan]

rileysan, lugz. yeah the only markings on it are the long c logo and be, no COO, #. looking on line it looked like it could be something unique?

I want to hear from Twertsy on this one, as he's more familiar with the Craftsman ads & catalogs from this era. Personally, I've never seen an advertisement for one from any era, but that doesn't necessarily make it rare. My gut tells me it is, but the jury's still out.

brian

 

[Cf mtn]

I want to hear from Twertsy on this one, as he's more familiar with the Craftsman ads & catalogs from this era. Personally, I've never seen an advertisement for one from any era, but that doesn't necessarily make it rare. My gut tells me it is, but the jury's still out.

brian

hope twersty stumbles on the discussion, now i'm curious.

 

[Provincial]

wait, Wait, WAIT - You don't get off that easily! Unless I'm mistaken, you've got something special there. I have never seen a flexible extension sold by Craftsman from any era. I'd recommend immediately sending it to me for closer inspection!

Brian
742 Evergreen Terrace
Springfield,

Brian, you were standing a few feet from one that was lying on top of the right-hand roller in my shop when you were here the other day.

It is a BE and the long C extends almost to the upright of the T. I picked it up at a local garage sale because I had never seen one before.

 

[Outlawmws]

You mean like the one in the first post of the thread?

Brian, you were standing a few feet from one that was lying on top of the right-hand roller in my shop when you were here the other day.

Brian does seem to have an issue with observation lately, doesn't he?

 

[Rileysan]

Brian does seem to have an issue with observation lately, doesn't he?

Quiet you!

As for Provincial's shop, there were far too many other distractions for me to have noticed a 1/4" drive extension - even if it were dangled in front of my face!

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

Quiet you!

As for Provincial's shop, there were far too many other distractions for me to have noticed a 1/4" drive extension - even if it were dangled in front of my face!

Brian

Prov, better load the shotgun; he's stalking your daughter of granddaughter!

 

[Provincial]

Before he moved from 12 miles away up to the Portland area (70 miles) all my collection kept ending up piled against the wall closest to his house. Now it is better distributed.

He came by the other day and left behind a Reed 305-1/2 vise, but several items followed him home. We both were happy.

 

[four.cycle]

I've got a =v= era one. It's the only one I've seen.

I have one of those, unless I'm mistaken. Took a while to find it at a reasonable price. Hard to tell that it's a " =V= " because of the space limitations on the drive end. Looks more like " :V: " actually.

You guys sure those weren't made by Ullman? (Maybe that's a dumb question.)

I do not own an NM38 New Britain, but if you stumble upon one, please send it my way. (I suppose if I told you I had an NM62 that might provide some incentive.)

 

[Username already in use]

Just to round out the category, they also made flex spinner handles (New Britain NM-38, NONE BETTER M-38). Both the spinners and the extensions are pretty scarce. And, like you and Catfishdan, I've never seen either one in Craftsman BE or (H) before.

Didn't know they were scarce. Probably should have posted this one earlier.
I feel like some of the other brands we've seen, the early plastic handles didn't hold up so well. Probably why there aren't many of the flex spinner handles around. This one is quite damaged by time as well, so much so that I'm afraid to try to clean it up.

Anyway, you came here for the pics... so...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Didn't know they were scarce.

Well, it is anecdotal (i.e., based on my flea markets and my personal experience), but I've never seen a 4" flexible extension or a 6" flexible spinner handle in the wild with Craftsman BE or (H) markings. As you know, I do see pretty much everything, though, representatively, and it looks like at least a few others have a similar experience. I am not a regular eBay shopper, but someone who is may have a different experience.

NOTICE: Upthread I said I didn't recall seeing the flexible extension in the Craftsman catalogs, but I was mistaken. It's not shown with the other extensions. It's shown with the other oddball midget pieces (e.g., Ell-handle, screwdriver bits). It's on page 16 in the 1942, and on page 12 in the 1948.

 

[bill300d]

The only place I have ever seen either of them is in the catalogs. I've never seen one in the wild, never.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for chiming in, Bill.

I feel like some of the other brands we've seen, the early plastic handles didn't hold up so well.

I meant to reply to this and forgot. Nope. It's the pyroxylin (cellulose dinitrate and camphor) used in early plastics, trademarked as "Pyralin" by Arlington Manufacturing. Chemically, it's very close to being a rocket propellant. Blue-Point was using it on their amber, translucent "Insuloid" handles as early as 1933. Duro-Chrome used it. Apparently New Britain as well. It was banned in 1951 expressly because of its volatility. Anyway, when you see these in old boxes all disintegrated it's the long, slow effects of it off-gassing. And when they're in close proximity to steel tools, it can turn them white. EDIT: Why some survive relatively okay and some not has to do with environmental storage conditions, I think.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Is that the stuff that smells like old vomit when you open up the box?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yup. Even when it's intact.

 

[four.cycle]

ugh! I've got two of them... an NM62 New Britain and a 3118 Stevens Walden. Both of them are enough to make a guy ill.
Any way to mitigate that? (Other than a heavy coat of clear Krylon?)

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i've got a few boxes of those SMELLY SCREWDRIVERS and i've put some in zip locks and almost threw them away so i'm listening to what might make the smell go away if there is such a thing.

 

[bmwrd0]

ALL: i've got a few boxes of those SMELLY SCREWDRIVERS and i've put some in zip locks and almost threw them away so i'm listening to what might make the smell go away if there is such a thing.

I remember reading somewhere that gun cleaning solvent, like Hoppes #9, can help remove the smell. Use a good scrubbing to work it in.

On the other hand, I use mostly wood handle drivers everywhere, so what do I know.

 

[drivesitfar]

BMW: i'm with you i like owning and using my wood handled ones too so maybe i'll just sell the old smelly ones to some guys that can't smell any longer.

thanks for the idea though.

 

[3baygarage]

I think you guys have confused those handles with the later smelly Xcelite and Craftsman, etc. type handle.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the old disintegrating handles are the same smelly buggers that turn powdery white.

 

[drivesitfar]

3bay: i know some of them were Excelites, but i haven't been near them for a few years now and not sure exactly where they are now that i sealed them in a zip lock bag.

I agree not all the plastic handled screwdrivers and tools don't smell like sewer, but the ones that do will have you running out of your shop to keep you from puking.

 

[wrenchguy]

sum u guys like to type….

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: most of my LONG C stuff that i've taken pictures of is in my old dead laptop, but here's a toolbox I think i own.

Wrench: yep and some guys make YOUTUBE videos.

hope you are enjoying your day!!

 

[3baygarage]

That there's a different Craftsman box Drives.

We see so many of the other logo style boxes, nice this thread is bringing out some different stuff.

Here's another of the ratchets. 3/8 drive.

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[d42jeep]

Thanks for chiming in, Bill.


I meant to reply to this and forgot. Nope. It's the pyroxylin (cellulose dinitrate and camphor) used in early plastics, trademarked as "Pyralin" by Arlington Manufacturing. Chemically, it's very close to being a rocket propellant. Blue-Point was using it on their amber, translucent "Insuloid" handles as early as 1933. Duro-Chrome used it. Apparently New Britain as well. It was banned in 1951 expressly because of its volatility. Anyway, when you see these in old boxes all disintegrated it's the long, slow effects of it off-gassing. And when they're in close proximity to steel tools, it can turn them white. EDIT: Why some survive relatively okay and some not has to do with environmental storage conditions, I think.

It is odd that some totally disintegrate and others are perfectly fine.
When Todd found this set the handle was totally trashed but the same year handle that Tin Medic sent me looks fine and they are both marked 1942.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When Todd found this set the handle was totally trashed but the same year handle that Tin Medic sent me looks fine and they are both marked 1942.

I read somewhere that heat and humidity exacerbate the process. That doesn't have to mean the difference between Arizona and South Carolina. But in a cardboard box in a basement in Pennsylvania versus a steel box in a garage in Pennsylvania. For instance.

 

[Outlawmws]

I notice there is a lot of rust next to the one that disintegrated. I wonder if that is from oxidizers in the disintegrating handle?

 

[bigredcornhead]

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Hope the images work this time!

 

[d42jeep]

I notice there is a lot of rust next to the one that disintegrated. I wonder if that is from oxidizers in the disintegrating handle?

I'm sure it is. Not only was the shaft extremely rusty, the Ratchet and even the case in close proximity to the spinner had surface rust.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

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Hope the images work this time!

No luck here. I only see the links when I reply.

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

Dead links to boot?

Try it this way:

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i found a few more pictures on my laptop of old Long C Craftsman stuff. a wood vise with the store's tag when bought new in 1934.